A/N: Hey guys! I'm sorry I didn't post this weekend. It was my brother's birthday and I just has some other stuff going on. But I've got great news. I've 4 chapters for you today! Yep. That's right, count 'em 4!

This is a mini guide to the next 3 chapters:

Emails are like this.

Mercedes' inner thoughts and dreams are like this.

Thank you, zeejack, bluchromed2002 and a Guest for reviewing!

Ok, so enjoy and let me know what you think!

Happy Reading!

And as always, REVIEWS = LOVE!

DISCLAIMER (for next 4 chapters): I do NOT own: Glee, The Twilight Saga: New Moon, any characters, places, words or phrases from either or anything else that can be found outside of fandom.

THIS FANFICTION IS UNBETA'D BUT PROOFREAD. ALL REMAINING MISTAKES ARE UNINTENTIONAL. APOLOGIES FOR ANY INCONVENIENCE.

Monday morning I woke up to the sound of my phone beeping. It was a text message from Sam.

Can't drive you to school today. Sorry.

It was weird but I didn't think anything of it. I got up, showered and got dressed for the day my new Christian Louboutin boots the prefect accent. Gordon had already left but he left me a grilled cheese sandwich and a glass of juice on the kitchen table. I ate then headed off to school.

I parked my car and met up with my friends inside. It was raining out so everyone was inside by my bank of lockers.

"Hey Mercedes. How was your birthday?" April asked with a smirk.

"What?" "I asked keeping my eyes on the dial on my locker.

"Why didn't you tell us it was your birthday Friday?" she nudged me.

"It's not a big deal. Just a birthday," I said with a smile.

"Well, happy belated," she smiled. I nodded my thanks. I felt a little guilty about not mention my birthday to her but only a little. It was bad enough that Tina threw me a party that resulted in me getting stitches; I didn't need a bunch people fawning over me in front of people.

I grabbed my books and headed off to Ms. Kwan's classroom. Everyone took their seats but the one next to me remained empty. I checked my phone for missed called and messages as the bell rang. Nothing. As the day progressed, I became more and more worried. At lunch, at the table closest to the back wall sat Kurt and Tina. I told April and the gang I'd be back before I joined the two Schuesters.

"Hey. Where is everyone?" I asked.

"We're it," Kurt answered.

"Oh," I said looking at Tina's sad face.

"Is everything ok?" I questioned. They both just shrugged. "Where's Sam?" they shared a glance and then avoided my gaze. "Right, well, just tell him to call me please," I said before rising from the table. They didn't reply so I just walked away. The rest of week went on like that. The following Monday, Kurt was the only person at the lunch table but by that Friday he was gone. I hadn't talked to Sam at all during that time despite all of my calls, texts and emails.

I picked up a few extra shifts at the music store over the weekend. Jerry is a great guy but his dad sucks. He's bossy and just overall annoying. Not to mention his horrible treatment of Jerry. I couldn't wait until the store closed on Sunday. I got in my car and drove to Breadstix. Gordon and I had dinner and talked about nothing. The next day would be September 30th and he wanted to start picking out Halloween decorations. I told him that I'd email some idea and we headed home.

I looked up decorations, sent them off to him, changed and went to bed. The next morning I woke and I had a strange feeling in my chest. Not like a heart attack just like...a slight aching. I shook it off, showered, dressed and went downstairs for breakfast. Gordon left a couple of Toaster Strudels and half a grapefruit. I ate, washed the dishes and headed off to school.

When I got there the aching feeling subsided and I was able to get through the day. Lunch was the same as it had been for the past two weeks. Me, sitting with my friends, glancing over my shoulder at the empty Schuester table as if I was trying to will them into existence. It didn't work. I didn't have to work after school because Jerry and his family closed the store because they hired decorators to decorate for Halloween. As I drove home, the ache began to come back. I decided that if it was still there when Gordon got home, I'd have him take me to the hospital.

I parked, turned off the ignition and got out. I grabbed my bag off the backseat and when I turned around to go inside, there was Sam. Standing in yard closest to the woods. I dropped my bag on the hood of my car and I took a deep breath as I approached him.

"Hi," I pushed out on a breath. He looked straight a head for a minute.

"Just come take a walk with me," he said cutting his eyes at me before he turned and headed toward the woods. I followed him. Once we were, I figured, deep enough away from prying eyes and listening ears, he turned to face me, eyes on the ground. "We have to leave Lima."

"Why?" I asked, the ache in my chest grew.

He looked me in the eyes this time before he spoke, "Will's supposed to be ten years older than he looks and people are starting to notice."

"Ok, I've gotta think of something to tell Gordon," I said trying to keep the panic out of my voice. I waited for him to say something; for him to help me come up with ideas but he said nothing. I looking into his green diamond eyes and examined the cold look on his face. "When you say "we"...

He looked away for a moment before returning his eyes to my face, "I mean my family and myself."

"Sam, what happened with Mike...it's nothing," I said trying to reassure him. I mean I hope that he realized that at this point I know that he was lying about the Will thing and that this was about so much more.

"You're right. It was nothing," he said his eyes looking off to the side. "It was nothing but what I always expected; and nothing compared to what could have happened," he swallowed hard. I shifted slightly as his eyes found me again, "You just don't belong in my world, Mercedes."

The aching in my chest was throbbing now but I had to be strong. I took a deep breath before I spoke, "I belong with you."

"No, you don't," he said firmly. The ache in my chest was becoming almost unbearable.

"I'm coming," I said in a steady voice.

"Mercedes, I don't want you to come," Sam's penetrating voice shook me.

"You don't want me?" I asked in a brittle voice. Yes, I heard him but something inside me told me that I should really hear him.

Sam looked me dead in the face when he replied, "No."

"That changes things a lot."

"But if it's not to much to ask, can you just promise me one thing?"

"Are you serious?" I asked, floored at his nerve.

"Mercedes, please," he said tightly. "Don't do anything reckless."

"You don't..." I began.

"For Gordon's sake," Sam interrupted. "And I'll promise something in return."

"I'm sure you will," I muttered.

He ignored me and continued, "This is the last time you'll ever see me. I won't come back and you can go on with your life without any interference from me," Sam said looking off at the ground again. "It'll be like I never existed. I promise."

"If this is about my soul. Take it. I don't want it without you," I said angrily.

"It's not about your soul," he said plainly. "You just not good for me."

"Not good enough for you," I said. I was teeming with every emotion except for happiness obviously. I was trying to keep it all in. I didn't want to explode. It wouldn't solve anything. It wouldn't help me prove to Sam that this was the wrong thing. That with me is where he belonged.

"I'm just sorry I let this go on for so long," he said.

"Please..." I pushed out on a breath. I could feel the ache in my chest beginning to rip. "Don't."

"Goodbye," Sam said looking into my eyes. I wanted to scream, kick, anything that would make him stay but I couldn't get my body to move. The ripping feeling was consuming me. He stepped forward, cupped my jaw and planted his cool lips against my forehead. I reveled in the feel of his lips on my skin and his fingertips icy graze. He stepped back and without another word or glance he was gone.

I was stunned. Shocked. I couldn't believe he was gone. No! I couldn't accept that. I wouldn't.

"Sam!" I yelled into the deep woods. No reply. I took off in the direction I figured he had traveled. "Sam!" I screamed as I ran deeper and deeper into the woods. "Sam!" I called out. It was getting darker and I was getting discouraged but I kept calling for him. "Sam," I said hoarsely as I moved slowly through the darkness. The feeling in my chest was different now. The aching had turned into a ripping feeling and now, well now it felt as if there was a hole in my chest. I mean, how could there not be? The person who completed me was gone. "Sam," I mumbled as I tripped over a downed branch and hit the ground. As I laid there, I realized that I have no reason to get up. Yes, there was Gordon but right now I couldn't think about him. All I could think about was the empty hole in the center of my chest where Sam used to be.

He wasn't just my boyfriend he was my other half; but now half of me was gone and I felt like an empty vessel that was broken and could never be filled again. I curled in on myself and waited...for something...anything. Sleep, unbearable pain, sadness, anger, anything to take hold; but that was the problem. They all took over.

When I woke up, I could see the shadowy tree tops moving past me. I felt strong arms carrying me. I looked up into the face of a very handsome and shirtless Native American man. He was warm and my body shivered as it tried to warm itself against him. As we exited the woods, I saw police cruisers, trucks, cars, all scattered around my yard. Gordon, Maverick, Travis and Winston were gathered around a cruiser with Chief Spinner Mason, looking at what I'm guessing were maps.

"Gordon!" the man's voice boomed. I saw my dad running toward us, relief written all over his face. "She's alright," he said as he handed me to my dad.

"I got her. Thank you, Dylan," Gordon said as he turned and began to carry me back to the house.

"I'm here for ya, Merc," Maverick said as he walked quickly beside my dad. I was grateful but I couldn't muster a smile for him. I watched him over Gordon's shoulder as he continued toward the house. The guy who had rescued me, Dylan stared at Maverick. I could tell he made him uncomfortable but I couldn't find it in myself at the moment to ask why.

When Gordon got me in the house he took me into the living room. I was looked over by the EMTs, who gave me a clean bill of health but that I could deal with bouts of shock and very, very mild PTSD. They gave Gordon some other instructions before they left.

"Alright, Mercy, let's get you upstairs," he said helping me stand up. When we got to the top of the stairs he pulled off my jacket and helped me out of my boots. "You wanna take a shower?" he asked. I nodded. He opened the door and allowed me inside. "I'll be back in fifteen minutes," he said closing the door. I nodded again. I looked at my face in the mirror and it was slightly unfamiliar. It was devoid of a glow or any emotion. I undressed, turned the water on and let the hot water wrap my cold body. When I was finished, I grabbed a towel and began to dry myself off. It was then I realized that the hot water of the shower was only able to warm the outside. It was then I realized that the ice cold hole in the center of my chest was still there. I pulled on the sleep pants and t-shirt that Gordon has place in the bathroom for me. When I opened the door to exit he was standing there. He grabbed my hand and lead me to my room. Gordon helped me into bed and then he sat there for a moment; just looking at me. "I thought...I thought I'd lost ya," he chuckled thickly. "I'm just glad you're safe," Gordon said as he bent down and kissed me on the forehead. "Try to get some sleep," he said, squeezing my hand. He rose from the bed, turned off the light and shut the door behind him.

I laid there for God knows how long before I couldn't take it anymore. I got up and sat down behind my laptop.

FROM: LawdHaveMercy gmail . com

TO: Tina_Schuester1911 gmail . com

Tina,

What's going on? Where are you? I wanted to come but...please tell me where you are. I need to talk. September 30th is officially the word day ever.

Mercedes

I typed furiously and clicked send. My laptop beeped a few minutes later. One New Email. I opened it and the icy hole seemed to grow a bit.

FROM: Mail Delivery Failure

SUBJECT: Failure Notice: Undelivered Mail Returned to Sender

TO: LawdHaveMercy gmail . com

Your message did not reach some or all of it's intended recipients.

I shut the lid. I couldn't even cry. I sighed and closed my eyes for a long moment. When I opened them, they landed the rocking chair my mom had sent me. I put in front of the bay window that over looked the street. I got up and firmly placed myself in front of the window.

The road lead toward...toward their house. They couldn't all be gone. He left me but surely he didn't take away the people that I was beginning to consider family. Right? No, of course not. He's not cruel. I'll just wait. Wait for one of them to come. Wait for someone to dull this pain.